HOUSTON, Texas – A late goal by Angel Lopez helped the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley slip past the Georgia Southern men's soccer team Sunday afternoon, closing out the Eagles' opening weekend at the Houston Baptist Tournament.

The Eagles (1-1-0) applied plenty of pressure to the Vaqueros' back line all game long, recording eight shots with six being on frame, but UTRGV's goal keeper, Esa Aalto, finished the game with six saves to his credit. In the 85^th minute of the game, Lopez slipped past the GS defense and accepted a feed from Fredrik Frankman, dribbling left into the box where sent a shot into in the lower right corner of the goal to put UTRGV ahead for good.

MATCH FACTS
Georgia Southern (1-1-0) – 0
UTRGV (1-0-1) – 1

SCORING SUMMARY
85' – UTRGV – Angel Lopez dribbled past the goalie and shot from the left of the box into the lower right corner of the goal

NOTES
- Angel Lopez's goal in the 85^th minute lifted the Vaqueros to their first win of the young season.
- The two teams were even in shots (8) but GS held a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal.
- GS had six corner kicks to UTRGV's 0.
- Seven different Eagles recorded at least one shot in the game led by freshman Josh Bronstorph's two. Also taking shots were Christian Duncan, Jeremy Rector, Sander Wang, Blake Wilson, Thor Sveinbjornsson, and Nick Wells.

QUOTE FROM COACH MURPHY
"This was a tough result for us after a good performance on Friday. I felt like we dropped off a little as some of our key guys didn't come and put in a full performance, which at this level you get punished for. I thought our opponents were well organized and, while we controlled a majority of the play, they were definitely set up to beat us on the break which they did on the winning goal. I thought Justin Little as a freshman was very good and Josh Bronstorph came off the bench and did a good job as well. Unfortunately, this is something we are just going to have to take and learn from at this point of the season. We don't have a lot of time to dwell on it as we will be going to Stetson to paly a formidable opponent there on Friday. But for now, onwards and upwards and we will take this and learn from it."

NEXT UP
The Eagles will continue their season-opening round swing with a trek down into Florida this coming weekend. GS will first play at Stetson on Friday, September 2. The match against the Hatters is slated to kick off at 7 p.m. The Eagles will then travel to Jacksonville to take on the Dolphins of Jacksonville University on Sunday, Sept. 4. That game's first kick is scheduled for 5 p.m.


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